Butter mold



July 6, 17937. J. M. CHARLTON BUTTER MOLD Filed April 29, 1935 Il' Il III' 'lll lllllll Il' IIII - .54 A da/7 ar/o/z L'BY ATTORNEY Y .52 INVENToR.

Patented July 6, 1937 UNET 'BUTTER MOLD John M. Charlton, Oakland, Calif., assignor to R. A. Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc., Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Y Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,763

8 Claims.

The invention relates to devices for containing t and molding butter or the like into a relatively large block preparatory to the cutting of the butter into a plurality of smaller squares Yfor dispensing.

Devices of this character are commonly comprised of a container having a bottom and side walls arranged to receive and mold therein a quantity of butter 01 the like. Usually in or-der to remove the butter from the mold, the sidewalls of the latter are arranged to move outwardly away from the set form of the butter and to accomplish this it has been the practice to so attach the bottom and side walls that the latter would normally lie inclined outwardly from the bottom and to provide means for resiliently straining the walls into a square relationship. rIhus, after the butter is molded and set and the aforesaid means released, the walls will spring outwardly from the butter form to permit the ready removal of the butter from the mold. This resilient opening of the mold is a desirable feature, but thelaforesaid method used for obtaining same, that is the straining of "the: moldwalls'themselves has serious disadvantages, and may likely cause apermanent set vand weakening of the side walls of the mold. In accordance with the present invention and as a principal object thereof, I provide a mold of the character described,in which the walls thereof will be resiliently sprung apart on release of the holding means without relying upon the resilience of the side walls or the other usual parts which comprise the sides and bottom of the mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 5 mold of the character described which will have an improved form of pivotal connection between the bottom and side walls thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mold of the above character which will have certain new and improved reinforcing means which will render the mold sturdy and durable and well equipped to withstand rough treatment, and to function properly without requiring adjustment or repairs substantially indefinitely.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the speciiication. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring tosaid drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mold constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mold shown in Figure 1 and shown with aportion of a side and the bottom thereof broken awayand in section.

Figures Y3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken substantially on the planes of the lines 3-3 and 4 4 of Figure 1. f

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure4,but showing the end wall of the mold in outwardly sprung position from that shown in Figure 4;

The mold of the present invention includes a bottom 6 and side and end walls 1 and 8,v and 9 and I I, respectively, secured thereto to define an open v top receptacle for receiving and molding `butter or the like. The'top of the side walls 1 and 8 are rabbeted to reinforcing cleats I2 and I3 and further secured 'thereto by dowel pins 14, ywhile the end walls `9 and II are similarly secured at their upper extremity to cleats I8 and IT whicheverlie the side cleats and are provided with wedge shaped recesses I8 whichk are arranged to receive and interlock with complementary rformed endl portions I9 on the side cleats. The walls and cleats may be drawn together and hel-d in closed position by means of a pair of tightener rods 2l which extend longitudinally of the device at the outer side of the walls 'I and 8 and are carried through alignedopenings 22 provided in the-ends of the cleats I6 and I1. Wing nuts 23, or other suitable means, may be used Yat the ends of the` rods `2| for drawingthe members into assembled relation. Y l Y It may be mentioned that several butter molds of the type to which mine is related include in one form or another the parts above described, and it should therefore be understood that the present invention relates to the improved form of such parts and to the new elements included in the present arrangement rather than to the aforesaid elements broadly as a new combination.

As previously explained, it has been the practice heretofore to attach the side walls and bottom of the mold so that such walls would normally assume a position somewhat outwardly inclined from the closed'position of the mold. Then on closing the mold, as by the tightener means, the walls would be strained to set up a resilient expanding force serving to spring the walls 'from about the material formed therein. In the present invention, I provide for such an outward movement of the walls without causing any mate# rial strain of the walls themselves by the use of a separate and specially designed spring member which in itself absorbs substantially all of the strain and sets up the aforesaid resilient expanding force. With reference to the drawing, this member is comprised in the present case of a spring metal band 24 which is secured about the outer bottom extremities of the sides and end Walls. As here shown, the band is secured directly to the base of the side walls 1 and 8 but is spaced from the end walls 8 and I I by intermediate connecting cleats 26. As maybe best seen from Figures 4 and 5, the vertically extending sides of the cleats 26 are not parallel, but rather tapered convergently upwardly from the bottom and thus with the inner cleat side set squarely againstlthe end of the end walls and with such walls vertically disposed with respect to the bottom, the outer side 21 of the cleat will be beveled-inwardly towards the top thereof. As will be understood, the band by reason of its extension around the container will normally tend to maintain the sidesthereof at right angles to its length, and the iixing of the band to the outer side 21 of the cleat 26 will normally cause the end to assume an outwardly inclined position, as shown in Figure 5, and any movement of such end inwardly will set up a resilient resistant force in the`band.

In order that the sides and ends of the mold may beV relatively free to move to and from a closed position subject only to the resilient force set up by the band 24,v these sides and ends are pivotally attached to the bottom of the mold. As may be best seen from Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing, the bottom is reduced about its edge extremities so as to provide a transverse projecting tongue 28 extending continuously around the upper edge of the. sides and ends of the bottom B. On the other hand, the sideand end walls are provided with transversely extending grooves 29 and 3| respectively for receiving and interlocking with the tongue 28. 'Preferably the sides 32 of,

the bottom 6 below the tongue 28 are formed on a bias so as to define together with the inner sides 33 and 34 of the side and end walls respectively thereadjacent, a Wedge shaped space through which the sides 33 and 34 may move on fulcruming of the side and end walls about the engaged tongue and recesses. The band, side walls and bottom are held in assembled relation by the use of a plurality of screws 36 secured through the band, side walls and bottom below the fulcrumed connection, While the ends are similarly held by screws which extend through the band, cleats, end

Wall and into the bottom below the engaged tongue and grooves. In orderV that the walls may be relatively free to move about their fulcrumed engagement with the bottom, the screws are secured rather loosely in the band and walls so as to permit relative movement.: As a further means of reinforcing the mold, a tie rod 31 is carried transversely through the bottom 6 and the side walls 1 and 8 and the band 24 and is secured by headed enlargements at its outer ends which engage the outer side of the band.

It will now be clear that when the tightening means is released, such as by unscrewing the nuts 23, the end walls of the mold will normally assume an outwardly inclined position, such as shown in Figure 5, and that during the molding operation when these end walls are drawn into a vertical position, as shown in Figure 4, the band 24 will be distorted into a resiliently sprung position urging the outward extension of the end walls, and will, on'the release of the tightening means, cause such end Walls to spring outwardly Vfrom the contents of the mold; With the ends thus moved outwardly, a clearance space will be provided in the recess I8 in the top end cleats for permitting a limited outward displacement of the side walls. If a further displacement of these walls is desired, the nuts 23 may be unscrewed suiiciently so as to permit the complete disengagement of the ends I9 of the side cleats from the recesses IB.

In the operation of molds of this type the butter is usually packed into the mold atthe churn and then stacked in a cooler to allow the butter to harden and set in the mold. To empty the mold the tightener means is i-lrst released and the sides and ends jarred loose from the butter, and then the form is inverted on a cutter table or the like and the butter loosened therefrom. In this latter function the use of the end cleats 26 assists materially in grasping and holding the mold in inverted position.

In the present embodiment, the band 24 is shown continuous in its extension around the base of the mold. This may be eiTected by welding the normally free ends of the band together so as to provide an uninterrupted metal reinforcing band around the base of the mold, which in addition to accomplishing the resilient mounting of the sides above explained, also greatly increases the strength Vand sturdiness of the mold. However, it will be understood that one of the important features of the band is that it extends about and is secured to two right angularly disposed sides of the mold so as to resiliently resist the outward displacement of one of the sides. For this function it is not necessary that the band be continued around the mold in a single strip, but may be composed of a plurality of strip segments. Also, it will be clear that the broad feature of resiliently setting the band incident to the inward displacement of one of the sides may be accomplished by means other than the use of the end. cleats 26 and that this latter arrangement forms an improved but specific embodiment of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a mold of the character described, a bottom, side walls pivotally connected thereto, means for drawing said side walls into positions defining with said bottom a receptacle for receiving and molding butter or the like, and a spring member connected to and urging one of said walls outwardly from said position thereof.

2. In a mold of the character described, a bottom, side walls pivotally connected thereto, means for drawing said side walls into positions defining with said bottom a receptacle for receiving and molding butter or the like, and a resilient member engaging one of said Walls and serving'subject to release of said means to spring said wall outwardly from said position thereof.

3. In a mold of the character described, a bottom, side walls pivotally connected thereto, means for drawing said side walls into positions defining with said bottom a receptacle for receiving and molding butter or the like, and a metal band engaging one of said walls and serving subject to release of said means to spring said wall outwardly from Said position thereof.

.4. In a mold of the character described, a bottom, sides pivotally secured thereto, means for drawing said sides to positions defining with said bottom a receptacle for receiving and molding butter or the like, and a metal band engaging one of said sides and being resiliently flexed by the action of said means whereby on release of the latter said sides will be urged to an outward position by said band.

5. In a mold of the character described, a bottom, sides and ends pivotally secured thereto, means for drawing said sides and ends to positions defining with said bottom a receptacle for receiving and molding butter or the like, and a metal band supported on said sides and engaging said ends and being resiliently flexed by the action of said means whereby on release of the latter said ends will be urged to an outward position by said band.

6. In a mold Vof the character described, a bottom, sides and ends pivotally secured thereto, means for drawing said sides and ends together to define with said bottom a container for receiving and molding butter or the like, and a metal band secured to said sides and secured to said ends along planes inclined to the plane of said ends when drawn against said sides by said means whereby said latter movement of said ends will be resiliently resisted by said band.

'7. In a mold of the character described, a bottom, sides and ends pivotally secured thereto, means for drawing said sides and ends together to dene with said bottom a container for receiving and molding butter or the like, and a metal band secured to and extending completely around said sides and ends adjacent said bottom and being secured to said ends along planes inclined to the plane of said ends when drawn against said sides by said means whereby said latter movement of said ends will be resiliently resisted by said band.

8. In a mold of the character described, a bottom, sides and ends pivotally secured to said bottom, means for drawing said sides and ends together to dene a receptacle for receiving and molding butter or the like, cleats on said ends adjacent said bottom and having the outer surface thereof inclined inwardly in the direction of the top of the ends, and a metal band mounted to said sides and to said outer cleat surfaces and serving to resiliently urge said ends to a position inclined outwardly from an engaged relation with said sides.

JOHN M. CHARLTON. 

